Woodbine: Olympian all the way

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Olympian ($18.10) led all the way for a game victory over Praise From Dixie in Saturday's $109,500 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine.

Olympian set splits of 22.02 and 44.09 seconds while being stalked by a host of runners in the six-furlong dash. He maintained a clear lead going into the stretch, and held off a late surge from Praise From Dixie to prevail by a neck.

Wake at Noon, the more fancied half of a 3-5 favored entry with Deputy Carson, commenced a wide rally on the turn, and finished a half-length behind the runner-up in third. Krz Ruckus was fourth in the eight-horse field.

The final time, over a wet track rated good, was 1:09.77.

"I had a ton of horse underneath me at the quarter pole," said Todd Kabel, who rode Olympian. "He was lugging out [in the stretch], but he came home strong."

Olympian, who set the five-furlong track record on opening day of the meet, earned $65,700 for Rexdale Stable and trainer John Cardella.